IP Library Granted Patent US 10,799,115
Granted Patent B2
US 10,799,115 · App. 15/651,853 · Granted Oct 13, 2020

Through focus retinal image capturing

Inventor: Ynjiun Paul Wang (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
A61B3/12A61B3/0008A61B3/0025A61B3/0041A61B3/0091A61B3/14A61B3/113A61B3/152G06T2207/20212G06T2207/30041
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,799,115
App. No.
15/651,853
Granted
Oct 13, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for producing a non-mydriatic fundus image is disclosed. The apparatus can include a processor and memory, as well as an illumination component and a camera with a variable focus lens. The apparatus can be configured to adjust the focus of the lens to a plurality of different diopter ranges and capture at least one image at each of the plurality of different diopter ranges. Using the captured images, three-dimensional maps of the fundus may be generated. Three-dimensional maps of the fundus may be used to screen or diagnose various diseases.

Claims (59)

1. A non-mydriatic fundus imaging apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a processor and memory; and

a camera including a lens, the camera operatively coupled to the processor,

wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

adjust a focus of the lens to a plurality of different diopter ranges;

capture a plurality of images of a fundus, wherein the camera captures at least one image at each of the plurality of different diopter ranges; and

after capturing each of the plurality of images of the fundus, generate a three-dimensional map of the fundus using each of the plurality of images of the fundus, including:

identify a first region, each of the plurality of images having corresponding first regions;

evaluate each of the respective first regions of each of the plurality of images for focus quality, thereby generating a focus quality score for each of the respective first regions of each of the plurality of images;

generate a slope of the fundus based on a change in the focus quality score in the first regions across the plurality of images of the fundus; and

use the slope to generate the three-dimensional map of the fundus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , the instructions further causing the apparatus to:

identify one or more areas of interest on the three-dimensional map of the fundus; and

screen the one or more areas of interest for indications of disease.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , the instructions further causing the apparatus to:

identify one or more areas of interest on the three-dimensional map of the fundus; and

identify a diagnosis based on the one or more areas of interest.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , the diagnosis including a determination of whether the three dimensional map is indicative of papilledema.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , the diagnosis further including a determination of a stage of papilledema.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a display coupled to the memory and to the processor and configured to display an image or text representative of the diagnosis.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , the instructions further causing the apparatus to:

adjust the focus of the lens and capture subsequent images until images have been captured of a depth of field from −6 diopters to +6 diopters.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein each adjustment of the focus is by +/−3 diopters.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the images are captured sequentially in less than about 150 milliseconds.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a visible light component configured to illuminate during the capture of the plurality of images.

11. A method for screening for optic nerve edema with a non-mydriatic fundus imaging apparatus, the method comprising:

adjusting a lens of a camera to focus on each of a plurality of different diopter ranges in a depth of field;

capturing at least one image at each of the plurality of different diopter ranges;

generating a three-dimensional map of a fundus using the at least one image captured at each of the plurality of different diopter ranges, including:

identifying a first region, each of the images having corresponding first regions;

evaluating each of the respective first regions of each of the images for focus quality, thereby generating a focus quality score for each of the respective first regions of each of the plurality of images;

generating a slope of the fundus based on a change in the focus quality score in the first regions across the plurality of images of the fundus; and

using the slope to generate the three-dimensional map of the fundus; and

based on the three-dimensional map, screening for optic nerve edema.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising identifying one or more areas of interest on the three-dimensional map of the fundus, wherein the screening for optic nerve edema includes analyzing the one or more areas of interest.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein screening for optic nerve edema includes identifying a diagnosis.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising displaying an indication of the diagnosis on a display.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the depth of field is from −6 diopters to 6 diopters.

16. A non-mydriatic fundus image capture system, comprising:

a housing;

an image capture device coupled to the housing, the image capture device including a visible light component configured to illuminate;

a display;

a processing unit; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the system to:

capture a plurality of images of a fundus in an image capture mode,

wherein the image capture mode includes a plurality of adjustments of a lens of the image capture device such that the image capture device captures an image at each of the plurality of adjustments in a depth of field focus range, wherein the light from the visible light component is gathered in a single step for each image;

after capturing each of the plurality of images of the fundus, generate a three-dimensional map of the fundus using each of the plurality of images of the fundus, including:

identify a first region, each of the plurality of images having corresponding first regions;

evaluate each of the respective first regions of each of the plurality of images for focus quality, thereby generating a focus quality score for each of the respective first regions of each of the plurality of images;

generate a slope of the fundus based on a change in the focus quality score in the first regions across the plurality of images of the fundus; and

use the slope to generate the three-dimensional map of the fundus;

identify one or more areas of interest on the three-dimensional map of the fundus; and

screen the one or more areas of interest for indications of disease.

17. The non-mydriatic fundus image capture system according to claim 16 , the instructions further causing the apparatus to:

identify a diagnosis based on the one or more areas of interest; and

display a diagnosis image representing the diagnosis.

18. The non-mydriatic fundus image capture system according to claim 17 , the instructions further causing the apparatus to adjust the focus of the lens and capture subsequent images until images have been captured of a depth of field from −6 diopters to +6 diopters, wherein each adjustment of the focus is by +/−3 diopters.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first region is a 5 pixel by 5 pixel region.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein slopes are generated for regions neighboring the first region.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 050260/0644 Recorded Dec 14, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: BREATHE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; HILL-ROM SERVICES, INC.; ALLEN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; WELCH ALLYN, INC.; HILL-ROM, INC.; VOALTE, INC.; BARDY DIAGNOSTICS, INC.; HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058517/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 4, 2019
From: HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.; HILL-ROM, INC.; HILL-ROM SERVICES, INC.; ALLEN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; ANODYNE MEDICAL DEVICE, INC.; VOALTE, INC.; WELCH ALLYN, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050260/0644 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2017
From: WANG, YNJIUN PAUL
To: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
Reel/Frame 043057/0748 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 14633601 · Feb 27, 2015
Related Publication 20170311800A1 · Nov 2, 2017